Dusted to Death Read Online Free

I’ll be right back.”
    Within a couple of minutes, she returned and handed him a bottle of green rubbing alcohol.
    “Thanks.”
    “You’re welcome. And, Louis, thank you for helping make this such a great day.”
    Louis simply nodded. “Couldn’t have done it without you.” Then, without an ounce of warning, he suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, again. As before, she was stunned. But unlike the brief peck he’d given her on Thursday, this kiss was a full-blown one. Surprisingly, his lips were much softer than she’d expected. Then, just as she’d made up her mind to enjoy it, Louis ended it. With a knowing smile, he released her, opened the door, and then carefully pulled it closed behind him.
    For long moments Charlotte stared at the closed door. Dormant feelings within stirred, feelings that she’d long thought were gone forever with the death of her son’s father in Vietnam, so long ago. Hank Senior had been her first love, and though other men had come along, none had stirred her emotions quite like Louis.
    With a shake of her head, Charlotte threw the dead bolt, then turned away and walked to the bedroom.
    Something was going on with Louis, and just thinking about it made her all jittery inside. She could come right out and ask him, but ask him what? How on earth did a person even phrase that kind of question? Besides, knowing Louis, he would only tell her what was on his mind when he was good and ready.

Chapter 2
    M onday was predicted by the weather forecasters to hit a three-figure heat index, but worrying about the heat was the least of Charlotte’s concerns as she drove toward Bitsy Duhè’s house. For one thing, she couldn’t stop thinking about Louis and wondering about his sudden need to kiss her at the drop of a hat. For another thing, she was more nervous about the job at Bitsy’s than she’d admitted to either herself or Carol.
    She still couldn’t believe that finally, after all these years, she was actually going to meet Hunter Lansky in person. Well, maybe not “meet” him exactly. In her experience, the maid was the last person anyone paid attention to. But just the thought of being in the same room or even the same house with him was exciting.
    Charlotte slowed her van to a crawl as she approached the block where Bitsy lived. “What now?” She narrowed her eyes against the morning sun to peer up ahead. She was only half a block from Bitsy’s house, and the entire width of the street was lined with barricades. As she inched the van closer to the barricades, she spotted a uniformed security guard headed her way. Tucked beneath his arm was a clipboard and he was motioning for her to turn around.
    Charlotte shook her head, pushed the automatic window button, and waited for him to approach her van.
    “Ma’am, you’ll have to turn around,” the young man told her. “Only approved personnel are allowed.”
    “I guess that would include me, then,” she told him, noting that the logo on his shirtsleeve was Lagniappe Security, the same logo she’d seen on Louis’s uniforms. “I’m supposed to be working on the movie set today.”
    “Name please and some ID.”
    “Name’s Charlotte LaRue.” She reached for her purse. A moment later, she showed the guard her driver’s license.
    The guard studied the license for a moment, and then scanned the list on his clipboard. With a nod, he said, “You’re clear.”
    “So where am I supposed to park?”
    “I’ll move the barricade, and you can park anywhere on that side of the street.” He motioned toward the right side. “Just don’t block any driveways.”
    When he turned to walk away, Charlotte said, “By the way, my neighbor works for Lagniappe too. Maybe you know him. His name is Louis Thibodeaux.”
    The man nodded. “Yeah, everyone knows Louis. We’re lucky to have him working for Lagniappe.”
    Once through the barricade, Charlotte drove slowly until she spotted an opening. After several maneuvers, she